Seen and Unseen 

" I am different but not less." Temple Gandin

Seeing The Unseen: How invisible Disabilities Like Migraine challenge the Way we communicate in healthcare
 @ Ms. Irons Sharpens

"What kind of work do you do? You will need to apply for disability because you cannot return to work". These words from the mouth of my neurologist left me numb. During that appointment, I was negotiating with him about my return to work. My mind was full of questions that caused it to race. How can migraine be a disability? I thought that "disability" was reserved for people with physical and cognitive challenges. My illness wasn't visible so how could this be. The thoughts were floating around wildly in my brain as a I sat in office. How was I going to even apply? To say application process was tedious is an understatement. It took multiple denials, the support of my doctor, and Social Security attorney for disability to be approved.

At doctors appointments, I would often hear the whispers of front office staff discussing my healthcare coverage. " How come she is on Medicare ? She doesn't even look sick?" The comments added salt to my already wounded heart .If only they understood my pain and sadness. To me disability meant, I was a failure. Statistics show that one in four Americans live with migraine and one in 4 Americans are disabled. The stigma around my illness took a tool on my confidence and caused me to be in constant fear. It was during my advocacy training when I first heard the term "invisible disabilities." My perspective shifted, my confidence grew, and my eyes opened to the impact of invisible diseases and their impact.

In honor of Invisible Disabilities Week, I wanted to share some thoughts about feeling invisible

Invisible disabilities are the quiet crisis of modern healthcare. Conditions like migraine, autoimmune disorders, chronic pain, or mental health challenges rarely show up on a scan, but they alter lives every single day. The problem isn’t just clinical it’s also about communication. When what’s happening inside the body can’t be seen, it’s too often misunderstood, minimized, or dismissed. The reality is when patients feel unseen, trust breaks long before treatment begins.

The Hidden Burden of Being Invisible

People living with invisible disabilities face a double burden: managing their condition while constantly needing to prove it exists. For chronic migraine patients, that can look like explaining why they missed work again, or trying to describe pain that doesn’t fit neatly into a 1–10 scale. It’s being told, “You don’t look sick,” while feeling like your body is under siege. Each of these moments chips away at dignity — not just because of pain, but because of disbelief.

How Communication Shapes Care

Words are often the first treatment and sometimes the most harmful.

Phrases like:

•“It’s probably stress.”

•“You seem fine.”

•“Your tests are normal.”

These statements, while routine, can make invisible pain feel invalidated. They unintentionally tell patients: If I can’t see it, it must not be real.

But small language shifts can repair that trust.

•“It sounds like you’ve been carrying this for a while.”

•“It’s frustrating when the tests don’t explain what you’re feeling.”

•“Let’s keep exploring this together.”

Empathy doesn’t take more time — it takes more intention.

The Cost of Invisibility

When invisible disabilities are misunderstood, the consequences ripple through the system:

•Delayed or incorrect diagnoses

•Repeated emergency visits

•Lost productivity at work

•Provider burnout from frustration and emotional fatigue

According to recent healthcare studies, delayed recognition of chronic conditions costs billions annually but the human cost is even greater. Patients lose trust, providers lose connection, and healing loses momentum.

From Dismissal to Dignity

Changing the conversation starts with one belief: Invisible doesn’t mean imaginary.

It means unseen, unmeasured, and often underestimated.

As advocates, providers, and leaders, we can all help bridge that gap by:

•Listening before labeling

•Validating before evaluating

•Partnering before prescribing

When we “see” invisible disabilities through compassion, language, and curiosity, we don’t just improve care we restore dignity.

Closing Thought:

Invisible Disabilities Week is a reminder: Visibility isn’t about seeing illness it’s about seeing people. because when patients feel seen, they start to heal.

How do you make the invisible visible in your corner of healthcare?

Share your reflections, stories, or strategies in the comments — your insight could be the bridge someone else needs.

Stay tuned for next weeks blog as I continue sharing this journey of perseverance setbacks, small victories, and hope. Schedule a consultation here: https://ironsconsultinggroupllc.com/contactus

visit us @ironsconsultinggroupllc.com and follow us on social media.